Search

Thomson Scientific Publishes The Ones to Watch - A Quarterly Review of Phase Changes in the Pharmaceutical Pipeline

Research by CMR Shows Revenue Derived from New Products Launched within
the
Last Five Years has Dropped to Just 16% of Total Revenue in 2006
PHILADELPHIA, Aug. 15 /CNW/ -- Thomson Scientific, part of The Thomson
Corporation (NYSE: TOC; TSX: TOC) and leading provider of information
solutions to the worldwide research and business communities, today issued its
quarterly The Ones-to-Watch report, providing expert insight into the five
most promising drugs to enter each new phase of clinical development between
April and June 2007.
"This quarter's most promising drugs all have significant market
potential and are associated with diseases and conditions that impact
countless numbers of individuals," said Peter Robins, PhD, and editorial
content manager, Thomson Scientific. "These important clinical developments
are highly encouraging for innovation-based companies in a period when many
pharmaceutical products are coming toward the end of their patent protection."
New research from CMR, a Thomson company, shows that revenue derived from
new products (those launched within the last five years) dropped to just 16%
of total revenue in 2006. And although the cost of research and development
continues to rise, there is no sign of a sustained upturn in the number of new
products reaching the market.
Which are the Ones-to-Watch this Quarter?
Topping this quarter's approval list is Novartis Vaccines &amp; Diagnostics'
Optaflu(R), a vaccine for influenza derived from a novel, proprietary cell
line. Approved for use in the EU in June 2007, Novartis plans to file for US
approval of Optaflu in 2008.
Second on our list is Wyeth, which is marketing Lybrel(TM) -- a
combination of Ievonorgestrel and ethinyl estradiol in a daily oral tablet
which eliminates the menstrual cycle and is being trialed as a potential
treatment for severe premenstrual syndromes.
Third is a drug launched in Japan in June 2007 for the treatment of
incontinence and pollakiuria (frequent urination) under the name Staybla(R).
Urinary incontinence is particularly prevalent in men and usually associated
with aging. Where the problem is an overactive bladder, patients may benefit
from the M1 and M3 muscarinic receptor imidafenacin, developed by Kyorin
Pharmaceutical, Ono Pharmaceutical and LG Life Sciences.
Fourth is a drug for one of the most severe forms of epilepsy (Lennox-
Gastaut Syndrome or LGS), affecting approximately 5% of the children who have
the disease. Eisai's rufinamide, licensed from Novartis, is the first drug
approved in the EU specifically for LGS. Eisai launched rufinamide in Germany,
Australia and Scandinavia in June 2007 under the name Inovelon(TM). US filing
is in process.
Finally for this section this quarter, Torisel(TM) is the brand name of
temsirolimus, an analog of the mTOR inhibitor sirolimus (rapamycin) developed
by Wyeth Research for the oral treatment of advanced renal cell carcinoma
(RRC). Having received FDA approval in May 2007, the drug is now available to
patients in the US, while approval is pending in the EU.
Following are the top five drugs in each category of phase changes:
The Five Most Promising Drugs Entering Phase III Trials
- trazodone, (Depression), Labopharm
- pimavanserin, (Schizophrenia), ACADIA Pharmaceuticals
- salmon calcitonin, (Osteoporosis/Paget's disease), Novartis/Nordic
Bioscience
- Generx(TM), (Coronary artery disease), Cardium Therapeutics
- fenofibrate and pravastatin, (Mixed dyslipidemia), Sciele
Pharma/Galephar PR
The Five Most Promising Drugs Entering Phase II Trials
- VSF-173, (Excessive sleepiness), Vanda Pharmaceuticals
- APD-125, (Insomnia), Arena
- Neugranin(TM), (Chemotherapy-induced neutropenia), CoGenesys
- Hepaconda(R) , (Hepatitis C), Giaconda
- GRC-6211, (Pain), Glenmark
The Five Most Promising Drugs Entering Phase I Trials
- Ad35 HIV-ENvA, (HIV infection), GenVec/NIAID Vaccine Research Center
- nestorone and estradiol (transdermal gel), (Female contraception),
Antares/Population Council
- Fluvacc, (Influenza), Avir Green Hills Biotechnology
- insulin oral gel capsule, (Diabetes), Oramed
- trodusquemine, (Obesity), Ganaera
About This Quarterly Report:
Data for this report was compiled and analyzed using Thomson Pharma(R), a
comprehensive global pharmaceutical information solution that covers the
entire drug discovery and development pipeline. Its competitive intelligence
and strategic data can justify and speed decision-making, facilitate more
focused collaboration, and encourage innovation.
For a copy of the full report with analysis, visit:
www.thomsonpharma.com/media/pdfs/tpqr/tp_qr_apr2007.pdf
About The Thomson Corporation
The Thomson Corporation (www.thomson.com) is a global leader in providing
essential electronic workflow solutions to business and professional
customers. With operational headquarters in Stamford, Conn., Thomson provides
value-added information, software tools and applications to professionals in
the fields of law, tax, accounting, financial services, scientific research
and healthcare. The Corporation's common shares are listed on the New York
and Toronto stock exchanges (NYSE: TOC; TSX: TOC).
Thomson Scientific is a business of The Thomson Corporation. Its
information solutions assist professionals at every stage of research and
development-from discovery to analysis to product development and
distribution. Thomson Scientific information solutions can be found at
scientific.thomson.com.